I know a lot of people feel confused if not frustrated by metronomes! Here is the basic rundown:
A metronome works by setting different beats per minute (bpm). For example, 60 bpms would be a beat every second, since there are 60 seconds in a minute. So you can set the tempo (speed) on your metronome by picking out how many bpm’s you want (60 is a slower tempo, while 120 would be a faster tempo).
Working with a metronome takes a different kind of listening. You have to listen to both the metronome and your piece at the same time, so you’re widening your circle of focus more than you’re used to. Just think of yourself as a vessel, absorbing the sound around you, and your fingers become an instant reponse to that sound.
When you work with a metronome for the first time, it can be difficult to use–even frustrating. I think it’s best to first try a simple exercise with the metronome before you jump on in to using it with one of your pieces:
- Set the metronome to 60 bpm’s and listen to the constant click. Now try to play one note on the piano over and over again at the exact time of each click. Usually when you use a metronome, you have each quarter note in your song (which is 1 beat long) equal one click. So in that case, in this exercise you would be playing quarter notes.
- Now let’s trying playing eighth notes (which are 1/2 beat long) with the click. So now you want to play two notes for every click. That means one note you play with be at the exact time of each click, while a second note is played in between each click.
- Try switching back and forth between quarter notes and eighth notes and see if you can still sync it up with every click on your metronome. You can also make up your own rhythms adding half notes (which are 2 beats long) and other notes. Once you feel comfortable doing this and can continually sync up your notes with the metronome’s click, you can try it with one of your songs.
It helps to have someone else with you (like your teacher!) when you first start working with a metronome so they can tell you if you’re in time or not–if you can’t tell yourself. The best thing to do is have patience. With not too much practice, you WILL be able to work with a metronome–but you have to put in the focus up front so that you can figure it out before you get going.
For more on rhythm, check out my post “Playing Rhythmically” at http://mypianoteacher.wordpress.com/2009/04/08/playing-in-rhythm/
